TAG Heuer

JToddH
[Moderator]
2670

• Show profile
• Show other posts

TAG Heuer: Rethink the Link

Recently, I wrote a quick post about TAG Heuer’s new Link models that were announced at Baselworld earlier this year. With all of the new offerings by the brand, I felt oddly compelled to take a closer look at the Link.

Quite impressed with the ladies’ models released last year, I was curious as to how the new designs would translate into something more masculine.  With all due respect to the original Links they belong to a bygone era. They are classic, but dated.

The missing Link?

I’ll go so far as to say the new Link design is not just better looking, it’s more practical. The flatter surfaces make it easy to brush out small dings or scratches that occur as a result of…life.

Gone are the bulbous shapes, replaced with gently curving links with beveled edges. The polished bevels provide a brilliant contrast to the brushed surfaces. With the slightest twist of the wrist, light becomes animated as it ripples across the bracelet, dancing from link to link.

TAG Heuer has done a great job integrating the Link design into a clasp that is all but invisible. The clasp is not just stealthy, but reliable, secure and easy to operate as would be expected from the brand.

With the bracelet commanding so much attention, TAG Heuer kept the dial simple and clean. A modest dial was a smart move as it complements the complexity of the bracelet rather than visually competing with it.

Restraint is also demonstrated in elements as simple as the markers. The sticks are actually quite thick, however, their relief is muted by the gently sloping pitch of the top surfaces. Added to this, the slight rounding of edges creates perfection in every marker.

At first glance (in the light), luminescence appeared to be minimal. When the lights went out however, the lume really stepped up. It was quite a pleasant surprise that got me scrambling for a camera to prove my point.

Cutting corners?

One of my favorite features of the Link has nothing to do with the bracelet or the dial. Looking closely at the bezel, the otherwise round shape tapers into four subtle corners. It’s a stunning feature also found on the ladies Link and even the recent Monza reissue. It’s a tiny but powerful detail that helps define the watch.

Though arguably one of TAG Heuer’s most unique, contemporary design cues, these corners actually draw from Heuer’s Ancetre models dating back to the 1920’s!

The case continues the theme of mixed polished and brushed surfaces. The crown guards are integrated into the case with soft, sweeping lines that flow gently up to the branded crown. Again, subtlety wins out.

Inside the case beats a TAG Heuer Calibre 5 based on the reliable ETA 2824-2. Nothing earth shattering here, just good solid reliable performance. Finishing of the movement is minimal as observed through the sapphire case back.

How does it wear?

One word: Delightful. The new Link feels paper thin and as light as many strap models. For a steel watch, this thing is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable. For those who avoid larger watches, you’ll have a hard time finding a steel bracelet at 41mm that wears as comfortable as the Link.

Final thoughts.

I often refer to TAG Heuer as masters in the art of subtlety.  It takes but a quick scan to realize the plethora of unique details that make the new men’s Link a formidable contender in crowded market of dress watches.  More of a crossover, the new Link models are great for casual wear or formal occasions.

Speaking of crossover, I should point out that my wife, also a watch enthusiast, is not a fan of smaller, “girlier” watches. As such, I was not surprised on Day 2 of my review to find myself having to peel her away from my review piece. So expect to share.

Finishing of the Calibre 5 could be better, but given the price point, the new Link gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Bottom line? With a suggested retail below $3k, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Note to self: Must have. Damn.

Site Info.